Last July, we began a conversation in Elk River about how we can surround and support students in a culture where youth need to navigate suicide and depression. Last year alone, Elk River had several youth complete suicide, when one is just simply too many.

That conversation FUELED A MOVEMENT where together with the Thumbs Up High 5K organization, a group of youth leaders and area ministries from Elk River, and student organizations from Spectrum High School, Elk River High School and Rogers High School are ready to reach JUST ONE.It has culminated with planning an event to emphasize the point that JUST ONE life matters. We want to support students who are struggling. We need to provide resources for them, their friends (who might get a text or call or post something on social media they don’t know how to deal with), and parents to help continue this conversation. We’ll also have resources for youth leaders, to help continue the conversation in your own youth groups.

JUST ONE is on Wednesday, March 14th at Spectrum High School, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 to visit resource tables) Pastor Mike (Bruekner), from Church of Hope, will be MCing alongside of Katie Shatusky! (Found of Thumbs Up High 5K)

Students from Spectrum High School’s S.A.V.E group, Elk River High School’s Yellow Ribbon group and the H.U.S.H group from Roger’s High School, are leading the way with promoting and volunteering! All that plus: sweet door prizes, over 25 resource tables from local organizations with amazing give-aways, and snacks! (Yes, SNACKS!)

Our hope is that JUST ONE isn’t just an event, but rather that it FUELS A MOVEMENT – making sure students know that they are loved and cared for. We hope that each student would invite at least one friend to JUST ONE. And potentially, one more function or programming component at your church to better unpack what’s discussed at the JUST ONE event. As a body of believers who love teenagers, we are passionate about the opportunity to come together and care for the youth in our community.

Attached, please find the JUST ONE promotional materials for distributing to the students. This is an important conversation we need to have. Let’s have it together.